Absence of Telomerase Activity in Malignant Bone Tumors and Soft-TissueSarcomas

[摘要] Purpose:Telomerase activity appears to play a crucial role in the development of many tumors. More than 80% of all malignanthuman tumors show an increased telomerase activity. However, conflicting results have been reported about telomeraseactivity in sarcomas. The aim of the study was to obtain more information about telomerase activity in sarcomas based on alarge number of cases.Methods:Telomerase activity was measured in 69 different tumor samples (33 malignant bone tumors and 36 soft tissuesarcomas). Tumor samples were obtained intraoperatively and frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen. Telomerase activitywas detected by the telomeric repeat amplification assay (TRAP-assay).Results:Only 7% of the samples showed telomerase activity. No correlation between staging and telomerase activity could beobserved.Discussion:The fact that only five out of 69 examined tumor samples showed a telomerase activity provides experimentalevidence that in sarcomas the reactivation of telomerase may play a subordinate role. Our results suggest that alternativemechanisms for cell immortalization, yet to be determined, seem to be involved in the development and/or maintenance ofsoft-tissue sarcomas and malignant bone tumors.

[学科分类] 肿瘤学